Multiuse Golf Tool

ABSTRACT

A simple and convenient multiuse use golf tool enables several valuable functions using an elongated ground stake that is slidably received into an elongated u-channel member. In this way, the ground stake may be held within the u-channel when not in use, for example during transport, and may be removed for use. In a first use, the ground stake has a divot repair tool at one end, and may be extended such that the u-channel and the ground stake cooperate as an extended lever to assist in easy divot repair. In the second use, the ground stake has a golf ball channel, and when the ground stake is placed on the ground, the golf ball channel may assist the golfer in achieving a consistent putt swing. In third use, the u-channel has a void in its base for perpendicularly receiving the ground stake. In this way, the golfer is enabled to practice proper position relative to a pin. In a forth use, the ground stake is made from a magnetic metal, or coated with a magnetic surface, such that a magnet attached to a phone or camera allows easy positioning of a camera relative to the golfer.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the present invention is golf training tools, and in particular, a golfing aid that has several uses for training and enhancing a golfer's game.

BACKGROUND

The game of golf is a very popular pastime and hobby for millions of people throughout the world, including in the United States, China, and many other countries. Due to the complexity of the game, golfers are always looking to improve their game. Accordingly, hundreds, if not thousands, of golf assisting tools have been made available over the past decades. However, these tools suffer from being too complex, too expensive, or focused on a single aspect of the game.

There are several frustrating aspects to the game of golf. For example, it is generally understood that when a golfer addresses the ball to make a shot, the golfer's body should be aligned parallel to the point that the golfer wants the ball to go. That is, whether making a put, a short shot, or hitting a long shot or driver, the golfer's feet should be positioned so a tangent line is pointing directly to the target. For many reasons, this is difficult to do, and requires constant reminder and practice. Even with practice, it is very common for a golfer to address the golf ball, and fail to see the proper line alignment for his or her feet. As a consequence, if the golfer's body and feet are mispositioned with respect to the target or pin, even a well hit shot will not proceed as intended, and the golfer will be disappointed with the shot.

One of the more frustrating aspects of the golf game is the putting game. As addressed in the paragraph above, it is important that the golfer be properly aligned toward a target, which may be the pin, or may be a point left or right of the pin depending on the slopes on the green. However, even if the golfer is aligned properly, the putting stroke must be made in a manner that allows for a putting stroke that is straight and directed to the target point. As is well understood by any golfer, it is difficult to make such a shot, as the natural stroke is not in a straight line, but tends to curve. Any such curve, will apply a spin to the ball that will cause the ball to move in unexpected and undesirable ways. Accordingly, it is important that the golfer learn to make a straight and accurate shot, such that the golf putter head strikes the golf ball squarely with no rotation. Since putting is so important to the overall score, being able to properly address and properly strike the golf ball is incredibly important to every golfer.

As the golf game is so difficult to master, and subtleties in stroke and movement are incredibly important, many golfers appreciate and desire feedback on their performance. Typically, golfers have engaged professionals to evaluate their stroke and give feedback, often at substantial cost, which can be hundreds of dollars per session. It would be highly desirable, therefore, for golfers to be able to receive more cost-effective and near real-time feedback as to their alignment and strike stroke.

The golfer, of course, wants to put their golf ball on the green in as few strokes as possible. In doing so, the golf ball often travels a trajectory that puts it high into the air and then drops to the green, putting an indent or divot into the green surface. Although not immediately noticeable, this divot not only creates a depression in the surface of the green that can interfere with the trajectory of the call, but will kill the grass underneath the strike point. To avoid these consequences, good golfers repair their own divots, and oftentimes use a hand-held divot tool that has two prongs that are pressed into the ground and underneath the divot and then rotated upward to bring the depression up to the surface of the green. Unfortunately, due to physical condition or age, is often difficult for golfer to bend over and repair divots with a handheld divot tool. Accordingly, there is a need for an easy and convenient divot tool for use while actively playing around of golf.

SUMMARY

A simple and convenient multiuse use golf tool enables several valuable functions using an elongated ground stake that is slidably received into an elongated u-channel member. In this way, the ground stake may be held within the u-channel when not in use, for example during transport, and may be removed for use. In a first use, the ground stake has a divot repair tool at one end, and may be extended such that the u-channel and the ground stake cooperate as an extended lever to assist in easy divot repair. In the second use, the ground stake has a golf ball channel, and when the ground stake is placed on the ground, the golf ball channel may assist the golfer in achieving a consistent putt swing. In third use, the u-channel has a void in its base for perpendicularly receiving the ground stake. In this way, the golfer is enabled to practice proper position relative to a pin. In a forth use, the ground stake is made from a magnetic metal, or coated with a magnetic surface, such that a magnet attached to a phone or camera allows easy positioning of a camera relative to the golfer.

The multiuse golf tool is compact, easy to carry, and can be used to repair divots to improve alignment skills and muscle memory for putting, chipping, and driving. Further, the multiuse golf tool enables easy positioning of a camera or mobile phone for capturing golf swing information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon referring to the drawings and claims.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a multiuse golf tool in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a ground stake and metal liner for a multiuse golf tool in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a u-channel for a multiuse golf tool in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a magnetic phone mount for a multiuse golf tool in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a multiuse golf tool used for swing alignment in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a multiuse golf tool used for putting practice in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a multiuse golf tool used as a camera mount in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a multiuse golf tool used as a divot repair tool in accordance with the present invention.

While the invention will be described in conjunction with example embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to such embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention. It will be understood that the drawings are exemplary, and may not be to scale or may have certain features removed to improve understandability.

DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, a multiuse tool 10 for the game of golf is illustrated. Multiuse tool 10 generally comprises an elongated ground stake 20 held within a U-channel member 50. As illustrated, the ground stake 20 may be frictionally contained fully with in the U-member 50. The ground stake 20 has a pointed tapered end 21 that allows the ground stake to be inserted into the ground, and as illustrated, the end 21 may be in the form of a divot repair tool. In some cases the divot tool 21 may be integrally formed with the ground stake 20, and in other cases it may be a separate piece that can be removed and used as a traditional hand held divot tool. However, for simplicity and ease-of-use, it is desirable that the divot tool 21 extend from the ground stake 20 such that a golfer may perform a divot repair while in a substantially upright position.

Referring now to FIG. 2, additional detail for ground stake 20 is provided. Ground stake 20 has a stake 22 having the tapered and 21, with a top surface 23 and a bottom surface 24. In some cases the ground stake 22 may be made of a non-magnetic material such as aluminum or a composite material, and in other cases may be made of a magnetic material such as steel. Due to the cost and difficulty in working with steel, a non magnetic material may be used for the ground stake 22, and a metal sheet 27 fixed to the ground stake 22. In one example, the metal sheet 27 is adhesively fixed to the ground stake 22. It will be appreciated that other methods such as riveting and welding may be used. In this way, ground stake 22 is substantially rigid for enabling insertion into the ground, and is magnetically reactive. In one example, ground stake 20 has a bottom surface 24 which is constructed with a plurality of ridges. A top surface 23 has ridges 25 at its edges that allow the metal sheet 27 to be received into a putting channel 26. The putting channel 26 has a depth such that the ridges 25 extend above the metal sheet 27. The width 28 is selected such that the distance between the ridges 25 allows a golf ball to be contained and rolled down the length of the ground stake 20.

Referring now to FIG. 3, further detail is provided for the U-channel 50 of the multiuse golf tool 10. As described above, the U-channel 50 has a channel 53 for receiving the ground stake 20. As illustrated, the ground stake 20 has a stake portion 22 that is frictionally received into a channel portion 53. Although U-channel 50 is illustrated with stake portion 22 being frictionally retained into the channel 53, it will be appreciated that other retention structures may be used, such as sliding or snapping. Accordingly, the width 54 of channel 53 is selected to retain and cooperate with the ground stake 20. Generally, the U-channel 50 has an upper portion and a base portion 55. The base portion 55 is substantially solid throughout the length of the U-channel 50, but has one or more spaced-apart voids 51 in the base 55. These voids 51 are sized to allow the ground stake 20, when removed from the U-channel member 50, to rest on the ground and extend through the U-channel member 50. In this way, the ground stake 20 is slideably received into a void 51, and is held substantially perpendicular to the U-channel member 50.

The U-channel 50 may be constructed of several alternative materials, but is preferably constructed from a solid plastic material, typically using injection molding. In other constructions, the U-channel 50 may be a metal or composite material, although other materials may be used. Although the U-channel 50 is illustrated as being a single solid piece, it will be understood that the U-channel 50 may be constructed from a plurality of connected parts.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a magnetic connector for a phone or camera is illustrated. A magnet disc 62 is provided which has an adhesive disc 61 affixed to one surface, and is surrounded by a protective disc 63. Accordingly, the magnetic disk 62 may be adhesively fixed to the back of a phone or camera, such as mobile phone 64. The magnet's size and strength has been selected to accommodate and support the weight of the phone or camera 64, when it adheres to the ground stake 20. In use, the phone 64 would magnetically adhere to the ground stake 20 if the ground stake 20 is made of a magnetic material, or would magnetically adhere to the metal sheet 27 if the ground stake 22 is made from a non-magnetic material. Either way, the phone or camera 64 may be securely attached to the ground stake 20 and positioned to allow the phone or camera to record a golfer's swing, thereby providing cost effective and real-time feedback. Further, the camera or mobile phone 64 may be conveniently moved up and down to provide an appropriate view of a golfer's swing or strike position.

Referring now to FIG. 5, an illustration 70 of the multiuse golf tool 10 is illustrated. The multiuse tool 10 is illustrated with the ground stake 20 removed from the U-channel 50. The ground stake 20 has been inserted into one of the voids 51 in the U-channel 50, such that the ground stake 20 is held substantially perpendicular to the U-channel 50. As illustrated, the ground stake 20 extends into and through the void 51 to provide a visual indication of alignment for the golfer, on both sides of the U-channel 50. It will be appreciated that the ground stake 20 make positioned such that it extends more or less to the golfer side of the U-channel 50. In use, the golfer removes the ground stake 20 from the U-channel member 50 and inserts the ground stake 22 in a void 51 in the U-channel member 50. The golfer aligns the U-channel member such that it points to the pin, or other golf target. The golfer places a golf ball at the end of the ground stake 20, and positions his or her feet parallel to the U-channel 50. In this position, the golfer is properly aligned to make a golf swing. Advantageously, the golfer may take a golf swing without moving or changing the position of the golf alignment tool 10.

As the U-channel 50 and the ground stake 20 are held in a perpendicular position, as illustrated in 71, the functions of the U-channel 50 and the ground stake 20 may be interchanged. That is, the ground stake 20 may be used to point to the target while the U-channel 50 may be used to align foot position and the golf ball.

Referring now to FIG. 6, an illustration 75 of the multiuse golf tool 10 is illustrated. Here, the ground stake 20 is horizontally positioned on a ground surface, such as on a golfing green, or some artificial putting surface. The golfer places a golf ball 76 into the putter track 77. The golfer aligns the ground stake 20 so that it points toward the target position for the golf ball. The golfer then takes a putting motion to strike the golf ball, which is then propelled down the putter track 77. In this way, the golfer, with practice, may build muscle memory on how to strike the golf ball 76 squarely as to not cause any rotational impact onto golf ball 76.

Referring now to FIG. 7, an illustration 80 of the multiuse golf tool 10 is illustrated. In this illustration, ground stake 20 has been pressed into the ground such that the ground stake is substantially perpendicular to the ground. A phone 64 or camera has a magnetic disk attached to it, such as magnetic disk 62. Because ground stake 20 is either made from a magnetic material, or has a magnetic metal sheet 27, the magnet is attracted to the ground stake 20. The phone 64 or camera is thereby fixedly retained such that the phone 64 camera may take a high quality video or picture of the golfer. In some cases, the entire length of the ground stake 20 may have a magnetic material effect, therefore the phone 54 camera may be adjusted up and down the stake 22 provide an optimal viewing angle.

Referring now to FIG. 8, an illustration 85 of the multiuse golf tool 10 is illustrated. The ground stake 20 has been removed from the U-channel 50 and reinserted such that the tapered end 21 extends from an end of the U-channel 50. As illustrated, the ground stake 20 has an end 21 that is constructed as a standard divot tool shape 21. In this way, a golfer may use the divot tool to repair a divot, while standing or in a comfortable upright position, and use the U-channel 50 and the ground stake 20 as an elongated lever to assist in making the repair.

While particular preferred and alternative embodiments of the present intention have been disclosed, it will be appreciated that many various modifications and extensions of the above described technology may be implemented using the teaching of this invention. All such modifications and extensions are intended to be included within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed, is:
 1. A multiuse golf tool, comprising: an elongated ground stake, further comprising: a putter channel having a pair of spaced apart ridges for containing a rolling golf ball when the elongated ground stake is positioned substantially parallel to the ground; and a tapered pointed end constructed to be inserted into the ground when the elongated ground stake is positioned substantially perpendicular to the ground; an elongated u-channel member, further comprising a channel running the length of the u-channel member, the channel sized for removably receiving the elongated ground stake; and a base having a void for receiving the elongated ground stake such that the ground stake is positioned perpendicular to the elongated u-channel member; and wherein the elongated ground stake can be removed from the elongated u-channel member and positioned (1) parallel to the ground for putting practice or as an alignment aid, and (2) perpendicular to the ground for supporting a mobile phone or camera.
 2. The mulituse golf tool of claim 1, wherein the pointed end of the elongated ground stake comprises two points formed into the shape of a divot tool.
 3. The mulituse golf tool of claim 1, wherein the elongated ground stake further comprises a metal liner fixed in the putter channel, the metal liner material selected to be a magnetic material.
 4. The mulituse golf tool of claim 3, further comprising a magnet that can be fixed to a mobile phone or camera, the strength of the magnet selected to magnetically hold the mobile phone or camera to the metal liner.
 5. The mulituse golf tool of claim 3, wherein the metal liner is fixed with an adhesive to the elongated ground stake.
 6. The mulituse golf tool of claim 1, further comprising a magnet that can be fixed to a mobile phone or camera, the strength of the magnet selected to magnetically hold the mobile phone or camera to the ground stake.
 7. The mulituse golf tool of claim 1, wherein the elongated ground stake is between 2 feet and 4 feet in total length.
 8. The mulituse golf tool of claim 1, wherein the elongated ground stake is frictionally retained in the channel of the u-channel member.
 9. The mulituse golf tool of claim 1, wherein the elongated ground stake is slidably retained in the channel of the u-channel member.
 10. The mulituse golf tool of claim 1, wherein the elongated ground stake is a solid milled aluminum rod.
 11. The mulituse golf tool of claim 1, wherein the u-channel member is a solid plastic member.
 12. The mulituse golf tool of claim 1, wherein the divot tool is removable from the elongated ground stake.
 13. The mulituse golf tool of claim 1, wherein the base has a plurality of voids, each void for receiving the elongated ground stake such that the ground stake is positioned perpendicular to the elongated u-channel member
 14. A multiuse golf tool, comprising: an elongated ground stake, further comprising: a putter channel for containing a rolling golf ball when the elongated ground stake is positioned substantially parallel to the ground; an end constructed to be inserted into the ground when the elongated ground stake is positioned substantially perpendicular to the ground, the end shaped and constructed to act as a divot tool; and wherein the elongated ground stake comprises a magnetic material; an elongated u-channel member, further comprising a channel running the length of the u-channel member, the channel sized for removably receiving the elongated ground stake; and a base having a void for receiving the elongated ground stake such that the ground stake is positioned perpendicular to the elongated u-channel member; and wherein the elongated ground stake can be removed from the elongated u-channel member and positioned (1) parallel to the ground for putting practice or as an alignment aid, or (2) perpendicular to the ground for supporting a mobile phone or camera.
 15. The mulituse golf tool of claim 13, wherein the u-channel member is between 3 feet and 4 feet in length.
 16. The mulituse golf tool of claim 13, wherein the u-channel member is between ¼″ and 1″ longer than the elongated ground stake.
 17. The mulituse golf tool of claim 13, wherein the elongated ground stake has a magnetic material layer and a non-magnetic material layer.
 18. A method of using the golf tool according to claim 14, comprising: at a first time, extending the elongated ground stake from the u-channel member such that the divot tool is exposed and the u-channel member acts as a lever for operating the divot tool; at a second time, removing the elongated ground stake from the u-channel, placing the ground stake horizontally on the ground, placing a golf ball on the ground stake, striking the golf ball with a putter, wherein the ground stake assists in directing the golf ball to roll down the length of the ground stake; at a third time, removing the elongated ground stake from the u-channel, inserting the ground stake into the void such that the ground stake is held substantially perpendicular to the u-channel member for assisting a golfer in proper alignment to the pin and at a fourth time, removing the elongated ground stake from the u-channel, inserting the ground stake perpendicular into the ground, and magnetically fixing a camera or mobile phone to the ground stake.
 19. The method according to claim 18, wherein removing the elongated ground stake includes sliding the elongated ground stake in a channel in the u-channel member.
 20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the elongated ground stake includes a putter channel having a pair of spaced apart ridges for containing the rolling golf ball. 